Environment and immigration correspondent

A controversial proposed law that would recognise a 20-week-old foetus as a ''person'' is in doubt as concern mounts it would affect a woman's right to an abortion.

The bill, dubbed Zoe's law, passed the NSW lower house in November last year after it was put to a conscience vote. It was carried 63 to 26.

The legislation was always destined for a more difficult passage through the upper house. Liberal MP Marie Ficarra was widely expected to introduce the bill on Thursday, but failed to do so.

It is understood the bill would have been roundly defeated. Its supporters must try to garner more support before Parliament resumes later this month.

Advertisement

Ms Ficarra said she did not introduce the bill because her colleagues wanted more time to consult on the issue.

Brodie Donegan, the woman who triggered the foetal rights bill after her unborn daughter Zoe was killed in 2009 by a drug-affected driver, says Twitter users have repeatedly attacked her over the issue.

Ms Donegan was hit by a car when she was eight months pregnant. The bill recognises a crime of grievous bodily harm against an unborn child for the first time.

Opponents, including the Women's Legal Service, Family Planning NSW and the Rape and Domestic Violence Service, argued the bill, which recognised a foetus as distinct from its mother, was a step towards further criminalisation of abortion.

Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi, whose party will oppose the legislation in the upper house, said public opposition had mounted over the summer. Interest groups and individuals are believed to have been heavily lobbying MPs in recent weeks.

"There is a lot more action on the ground from the community,'' said Ms Faruqi. ''Just yesterday I got about 50 emails from people [telling me] to vote no, compared to one that said to support it."

An earlier version of the law was proposed by Christian Democratic MP Fred Nile. He is a strong supporter of the current bill and denied it was lacking support, adding it ''has been demanded by women".

Ms Donegan said the early involvement of Mr Nile, a strident anti-abortion campaigner, had "tainted" the current legislation and "made people a bit paranoid about the true intentions behind it".

She spoke of receiving "awful messages" on Twitter, including accusations that Zoe's law amounted to ''inflicting your grief'' on others.

"[The issue] is really difficult and it gets people on edge but I don't think people have to be mean about it," she said.

Ms Donegan, who has recently moved to Sydney from the central coast, said she was prepared to discuss the issue with MPs before the bill is considered.

"It was going to be a long shot because there would always be opposition, but [I wanted to] start a conversation and start people saying 'something needs to be done,'" she said.